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every Weyrhealer and Beastmaster。
HONSHU WEYRHOLD…TIME PASSING SLOWLY
〃There's considerably more available about every other animal on this planet；〃 Wyzall said after a long afternoon's study with Beastmaster Ballora； his best animal healer； Persellan； and Tai； 〃than about the ones we're most dependent on。〃 He pushed back from the table； rubbing his face to ease fatigue。
〃That's because we have had bodies of every other animal to dissect for study；〃 Ballora remarked。 She was a big； athletic woman。 She had started healer training with Master Oldive but found a real empathy and skill with animals so she had changed to the BeastCraftHall。 Her manner was in general as reassuring to humans as it was to the animals she tended and bred。 Now she sighed with deep regret。 〃But then the only anatomical studies ever available were those done on dead fire…lizard hatchlings that Ancient zoologists happened to find。 And those most inplete notes that Wind Blossom left that concerned unhatched watchwhers which； as we all know； were not our dragons。〃
〃Records state that there were unhatched dragon eggs。。。〃 Tai began tentatively。
Wyzall dismissed that。 〃There was a prejudice against such study；〃 he continued。 〃Not that I disagree； since any eggs that didn't hatch failed because of some defect。〃 He gave a sigh。 〃Live dragons can at least tell their riders where they hurt； if it isn't visible。 Unlike us humans who do not seem to be sufficiently in tune with our bodies because we…〃 He broke off； clearing his throat and riffling the pages he had been reading。
〃Because we die when we wear out；〃 Ballora said with detachment。 〃Did you ever discover which is the oldest living fire…lizard； Wyzall？〃 she asked with a grin。
Wyzall tut…tutted and shook his head。 〃It's an impossibility。 They may tell dragons what they 'remember' seeing but I think it's analogous to the Tillek's knowledge of delphinic history。 The fire…lizards weren't there to see it happen but they have passed the tale of it down so that it〃…and he waved to the fairs that were either sleeping or lazily flying on the light breeze…〃bees a personal memory。〃
〃Not all the fire…lizards remember seeing the spaceships in the ship meadow；〃 Tai reminded him。
〃Ah；〃 and Wyzall wiggled a finger at her； 〃but which do？ Back to the present；〃 he said then； growing solemn； 〃I do think that gentle massage with the unguent will help circulation to Golanth's damaged wing joint。 At least it no longer causes him great pain。〃
〃How could it with five jars of numbweed soaked in！〃 Tai asked； since she had undertaken a lot of that massage。
〃Well； no harm in trying this unguent；〃 Ballora said； taking it from her pouch and placing it on the table with the air of exhibiting an item of rare value。 〃Helps with joint…ail on runnerbeasts but it's worse to produce than numbweed。〃
〃Nothing can be worse；〃 said Persellan； who was usually in charge of collecting； boiling； and rendering the weed at Monaco Weyr。
〃It's a big joint；〃 Tai said； dubiously。
〃Rub it in well and we must be sure to wash our hands thoroughly。 We don't want to absorb too much of it through the skin of our hands。〃
She removed the stopper to the pot and had been about to sniff but set it down quickly。
〃The smell won't kill you；〃 Ballora said。 So willing hands massaged the substance into the dragon's wing joint。
There were other worries about Golanth that must soon be addressed。 A dragon injured in a Fall usually went between…first to shake off Thread in the cold and second to emerge in his or her Weyr。 Every Weyr； including Monaco； had an infirmary； which could acmodate a wounded； or sick； dragon。 Honshu had only the broad terrace on which the queens had tenderly deposited the desperately wounded bronze after the attack。 But Golanth could not be moved through between until his injuries were healed。
Another five days stuck in Honshu； with so many people around； was Tai's limit。 She had to get away by herself； away from all the pressures there。 She spent as much time with F'lessan as she could…when not dismissed by healers…because he really did seem less restless when she was nearby。
She could tell when he was speaking with Golanth； which was often； and also when his wounds were being dressed and he needed distraction from the pain； because his eyes went unfocused。 Sometimes she worried that he was retreating too much into Golanth。 Oddly enough； the healers could keep the dragon far more fortable by use of numbweed than they could the rider。
There was； indeed； little she could do for F'lessan…which distressed her…and not all that much for Zaranth who； like most injured dragons； slept a lot。 By the eighth day； she realized that the healing process was plete enough…no more grainy feel except to the deepest claw marks； though the new skin was very tender…and Zaranth could safely go between。 Tai's leg wounds were red scars and peeling flesh。 The sea would plete her healing； too。
We will go when they sleep； Zaranth informed her rider。 They will not then miss us。
Sea will be good for you； too。 Tai assuaged her conscience by saying； repeatedly。
Having made the decision； it was hard to get through the day。 She worried about leaving F'lessan； Golanth wouldn't be aware。 She felt as if she was deceitful and devious but she needed a respite。 The sight of F'lessan crumpling in on himself when allowed to take a few steps from his bed had almost made her retch。 He'd had to lean heavily on the crutch； for his left leg could still handle no weight and the abdominal wound kept him from straightening。 Hair was beginning to grow over the head wound； but he was a far cry from the dashing； blithe； youthful Benden Wingleader。
So Tai and Zaranth made their plans and waited until the subdued； quiet； but constant activity of the carers and healers went into nighttime mode。 At last Tai slipped out； wincing a bit as she jarred her leg on the stone floors： she had left her cane behind； for it had a metal tip and its click would be audible。 Someone might hear her moving and investigate； very quick to investigate； they were。
She slipped onto Zaranth's back。 The green padded carefully to the edge； slowly extending her wings above her head； and then； in a maneuver that they both knew was reckless； tipped over the edge。 Wind caught under her wings and she glided silently a moment； just above the treetops； before going between。
They chose a little cove off the coast of Cathay； Zaranth expertly ing in over the placid waves to a white sand beach。 They landed there long enough for Tai to strip off her clothing； leave her towel； and remount Zaranth。 The green then walked slowly into the tranquil sea； chirping happily as the warm water caressed her； until she floated。 Tai just fell off her dragon's neck into the sea； elated with the success of their escape and the caress of the warm water。
〃We needed this； dear heart；〃 she said； slapping Zaranth's wet wither。
The dragon let herself sink until only her eyes remained above the water； brilliant green and blue…and that unhappily reminded Tai of Golanth's eye。 But suddenly dolphins arrived； squeeing and clicking in great sympathy for the red scars on Tai's legs and the black scabbed stripes on Zaranth's body； overjoyed at their unexpected arrival and scolding them； as much as dolphins scold； for staying away so long。 And when were Golly and Fless ing to swim； too？ Yes； they knew they had been hurt but seawater was good for all hurts； and swimming was good for sores； and they must e and tell them about the furry things。 All these questions while sleek smooth dolphin bodies provided the dragon gentle massage and unplicated pany for the rider。 The moon rose as Tai； grasping two dorsal fins； was taken on a wild ride around the little cove； dolphins leaping high in escort and vying to take the place of any who lost her hand。
Indeed； it wasn't until Tai's hands slipped several times from fins that she realized she was tired。 So much unexpected exercise。
〃You rest；〃 the dolphin named Afri urged； and cheed firmly about her； an order for the others to calm down。 Tai was surrounded and supported by dolphin bodies； the light wa